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Yea, verily, yea
Dec. 4th, 2006 11:54 amI watched Danny Kaye in The Court Jester for the first time this weekend. Rather, it was the first time I'd watched the whole thing through - I'd seen most or all of it in bits and pieces over the years.
The Hollywood nonhistorical costumes, attitudes, technology, etc. generally don't bother me. They weren't making a real attempt to be authentic.
No, what annoyed me was the fencing. Basil Rathbone was the best fencer in Hollywood (and complained about always having to lose, because he played villains). His duels with Tyrone Power and Ronald Colman were things of beauty on the screen. Danny Kaye, for all his talent, was clearly not someone who had practiced stage combat. So the fights were generally "thrust towards the floor and I beat it down further with my sword". Easy to teach but boring - and totally unrealistic, even by stage combat standards.
...I haven't fenced in over fifteen years, but I guess some habits die hard.
The Hollywood nonhistorical costumes, attitudes, technology, etc. generally don't bother me. They weren't making a real attempt to be authentic.
No, what annoyed me was the fencing. Basil Rathbone was the best fencer in Hollywood (and complained about always having to lose, because he played villains). His duels with Tyrone Power and Ronald Colman were things of beauty on the screen. Danny Kaye, for all his talent, was clearly not someone who had practiced stage combat. So the fights were generally "thrust towards the floor and I beat it down further with my sword". Easy to teach but boring - and totally unrealistic, even by stage combat standards.
...I haven't fenced in over fifteen years, but I guess some habits die hard.
